mierenegel

Dutch

Etymology

Compound of mier (“ant”) +‎ -en- +‎ egel (“hedgehog”). Named after its resemblance to a hedgehog and its diet of ants and termites. First attested in the mid-nineteenth century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmiː.rənˌeː.ɣəl/

• Audio:

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• Hyphenation: mie‧ren‧egel

Noun

mierenegel m (plural mierenegels, diminutive mierenegeltje n)

1. echidna, any member of the family Tachyglossidae [from mid 19th c.]